2021 Rugby League News

Here’s a chronological look at news from the National Rugby League, Super League and other competitions in 2021.

NRL and Super League draw and team lists

• 2021 NRL squad listing
• 2021 NRL Draw
• 2021 Super League squad numbers
• 2021 Super League Draw (to be announced)

Our Social Media Accounts

Twitter: @NothingButRL 
Facebook: @NothingButRL

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

January 2021

1st

• Darcy Lussick joins Salford Red Devils (2021)

2nd

• Huddersfield Giants investigating a minority of players who breached Tier 3 COVID protocols. The matter to be dealt with internally.

3rd

• New Zealand Warriors fly out to Australia to mandatory quarantine ahead of the 2021 NRL Season.
• Parramatta Eels clarify Junior Paulo’s availability following newspaper reports that he is scheduled to fight ex-NRL player Neville Costigan this month.
• Tony Gigot released by Wakefield Trinity.

4th

5th

• Kane Bradley joins North Queensland Cowboys (2022).
• Tukimihia Simpkins joins Wests Tigers (2023).
• Reports that Gareth Widdop is returning to the UK after missing out on a contract in the NRL.
• Leeds Rhinos announce their 2021 squad numbers.
• Stevie Ward retires from rugby league.
• United Kingdom COVID lockdown results in the RFL advising Championship and League 1 clubs to pause training, while Super League clubs will need to follow protocols at training. The draw for the first two rounds of the Challenge Cup are on hold.

6th

• Mitchell Pearce stands down as Newcastle Knights captain.

7th

8th

• Hull Kingston Rovers announce their 2021 squad numbers.
• Leeds Rhinos Luke Gale suffers torn pec injury at training.

9th

• Romain Navarrete leaves Wigan Warriors to join London Broncos (2021).

10th

11th

• Corey Allan joins Canterbury Bulldogs (2023).
• Scott Sorensen joins Penrith Panthers (2021).

12th

• Canterbury Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill resigns.
• Ryan Lannon (2023) and Josh Johnson (2023) re-sign with Salford Red Devils.
• Wakefield Trinity promote Sam Eseh Junior (2024) and Patrick O’Donovan (2024) to their first team.
• Lance Corporal Lloyd Wheeldon joins Castleford Tigers (1 month trial).

13th

• Josh Mansour joins South Sydney Rabbitohs (2022).
• David Mead joins Brisbane Broncos (2021).

14th

• David Nofoaluma re-signs with Wests Tigers (2025).
• Isaiah Tass joins Brisbane Broncos (2021-development).
• Melbourne Storm launch their 2021 home jersey.
• Former Newcastle Knights half Jarrod Mullen joins Sunshine Coast Falcons (2021).
• Super League season delayed by two-weeks and will commence on March 25. The RFL have delayed the start of the Rugby League Championship and League 1.
• Huddersfield Giants announce their 2021 squad numbers.

15th

• Ben Te’o re-signs with Brisbane Broncos (2021).

16th

• King Vuniyayawa joins Leeds Rhinos (2021).

17th

• Payne Haas arrested by NSW Police with offensive language and intimidating police.

18th

• Huddersfield Giants Ashton Golding suffers a shoulder injury at training and will miss the start of the Super League season.

19th

• NRL and Players Association agree to 6% reduction in 2021 ($9.02m) and 2022 ($9.11m) salary caps; $15,000 Origin payments for participating players.
• South Sydney Rabbitohs Brock Gardner suffered a torn Achilles at training and is expected to miss 6-9 months.
• Reports that ex-NRL referee boss Bernard Sutton has joined Melbourne Storm in a consultancy role.

20th

• Brisbane Broncos Alex Glenn granted a testimonial match when they play North Queensland Cowboys in a trial match at Redcliffe on February 27.
• Catalans Dragons release a statement clarifying reports about Israel Folau’s future following speculation he’s switching to rugby union: “The club and Israel Folau have been in constant dialogue since Christmas regarding a personal family situation. This along with Covid restrictions are currently preventing his return to France.”
• Junior Moors leaves Castleford Tigers to join Featherstone Rovers (2021).

21st

• Canberra Raiders Tom Starling has six of seven charges dropped by police during a court appearance in Gosford for an incident that occurred on December 5, 2020. He is pleading not guilty to the remaining charge.
• Ethan Bullemor re-signs with Brisbane Broncos (2022).
• Leeds Rhinos close their training grounds for a minimum of five days following six players and one staff member testing positive for COVID-19.
• Huddersfield Giants close their training grounds for a minimum of five days following a number of positive tests for COVID-19.
• Malakai Watene-Zelezniak has announced his retirement from rugby league following a recent health scare.
• David Bolton passes away at age 83 (27/4/1937 to 21/1/2021). Bolton appeared 300 times for Wigan (1954-64), before heading to Balmain for 78 appearances (1965-1970). Bolton represented Great Britain eight times. He also coached the Parramatta Eels (1973-1974).

22nd

• The RFL have announced the start of the Rugby League Championship on the weekend of Easter (April 2-4) with a top six play-off series in September and October. Championship 1 will start on the weekend of May 8-9.